Nkarta Announces Leadership Updates, Appoints Nadir Mahmood as President

Core Insights - Nkarta, Inc. has announced a new leadership structure aimed at enhancing its capabilities in developing and commercializing NK cell therapies for autoimmune diseases [1][7][8] - The company has initiated clinical trials for its NKX019 therapy, targeting conditions such as lupus nephritis and systemic sclerosis [3][15] Leadership Changes - Nadir Mahmood, Ph.D., has been appointed as President, sharing executive responsibilities with CEO Paul J. Hastings [7][13] - David R. Shook, M.D., has been promoted to Chief Medical Officer, Head of Research & Development, reflecting his expanded role in overseeing the R&D organization [14] Clinical Development - Nkarta has launched the Ntrust-1 clinical trial for NKX019 in lupus nephritis and received FDA clearance for its second IND application for NKX019 in autoimmune diseases [3][15] - The company plans to announce preliminary data from the Ntrust-1 and Ntrust-2 trials in 2025 [15] Technology and Innovation - NKX019 is an engineered therapy utilizing NK cells derived from healthy adult donors, designed for enhanced targeting and persistence in treating autoimmune diseases [4][10] - The company combines cell expansion, cryopreservation, and CRISPR-based genome engineering to develop its NK cell therapies [11]